Robert Celt
New Member
Proposed rules and regulations for Guam's medical marijuana program, which has been in development since island voters legalized the use of medical pot in November 2014, will move forward after months of delay.
The Office of the Attorney General approved the rules and regulations on Thursday.
In a letter from Attorney General Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson dated April 28 to Department of Public Health and Social Services Director James Gillan, she wrote that the office completed its review of the rules governing the Joaquin (KC) Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013 as revised.
In February 2014, lawmakers passed the act, which placed the question of whether to allow the use of medical marijuana in Guam on the general election ballot.
The island's public health department was charged with developing the rules. It must now send the rules to Guam lawmakers for review.
The rules will not become effective until 90 days after they've been filed with the legislative secretary, Barrett-Anderson wrote in her letter. However, within this 90-day time period, the Legislature may approve, disapprove, or amend these proposed rules, the AG wrote.
Now that the attorney general has approved the rules, her office has done its part in the review process, attorney general's office spokeswoman Carlina Charfauros said.
Barrett-Anderson said last month that she hoped to have her review of the rules completed soon. The office has had the rules and regulation since October.
Some bills will need to be introduced in tandem with the rules and regulations, the attorney general said last month. She said Sen. Tina Muna Barnes is working on some bills to strengthen the rules and regulations.
Barnes was the author of the Joaquin (KC) Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013.
In a press release issued Friday, Barnes asked Public Health to expedite the transmittal of the proposed rules to the Legislature.
Barnes said the process of approving the rules has taken longer than she had anticipated.
"Every day that goes by when we do not see the implementation of this program is another day that a patient dealing with a debilitating illness has to endure with pain that may be relieved from the use of marijuana as a medicine," Barnes stated in the release.
Barnes urged government officials to move the rules as quickly as possible.
"The quicker we can get this program to implementation, the quicker we can give the many patients who deal with debilitating illness the medicine that they need," she said.
Barrett-Anderson last month said her office worked with Public Health weekly to fix the rules and regulations. She said it's been a very long process and it was a good learning experience since it was the first time Guam had to come up with such rules.
Emily Concepcion, the wife of the late KC Concepcion, who the law is named after, said she's glad the issue is taking another step forward.
She said a lot of people continue to ask her about the law for an update and she has been informing them that it's at the AG's office for review.
She said even though the review has taken longer than some would have expected, she said it was important that it be done right for the safety of the patients.
"I'm glad it's moving along. We're one step closer to getting help for patients that are in need of this medicine," she said.
Concepcion said she thanks the AG's office and the government for working hard on the rules and regulations. She's also thankful for the patience of those who are in need of the medicine and is hopeful they will have relief soon.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Author: Jerick Sablan
Photo Credit: Frederic J. Brown
Website: Pacific Daily News
The Office of the Attorney General approved the rules and regulations on Thursday.
In a letter from Attorney General Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson dated April 28 to Department of Public Health and Social Services Director James Gillan, she wrote that the office completed its review of the rules governing the Joaquin (KC) Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013 as revised.
In February 2014, lawmakers passed the act, which placed the question of whether to allow the use of medical marijuana in Guam on the general election ballot.
The island's public health department was charged with developing the rules. It must now send the rules to Guam lawmakers for review.
The rules will not become effective until 90 days after they've been filed with the legislative secretary, Barrett-Anderson wrote in her letter. However, within this 90-day time period, the Legislature may approve, disapprove, or amend these proposed rules, the AG wrote.
Now that the attorney general has approved the rules, her office has done its part in the review process, attorney general's office spokeswoman Carlina Charfauros said.
Barrett-Anderson said last month that she hoped to have her review of the rules completed soon. The office has had the rules and regulation since October.
Some bills will need to be introduced in tandem with the rules and regulations, the attorney general said last month. She said Sen. Tina Muna Barnes is working on some bills to strengthen the rules and regulations.
Barnes was the author of the Joaquin (KC) Concepcion II Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013.
In a press release issued Friday, Barnes asked Public Health to expedite the transmittal of the proposed rules to the Legislature.
Barnes said the process of approving the rules has taken longer than she had anticipated.
"Every day that goes by when we do not see the implementation of this program is another day that a patient dealing with a debilitating illness has to endure with pain that may be relieved from the use of marijuana as a medicine," Barnes stated in the release.
Barnes urged government officials to move the rules as quickly as possible.
"The quicker we can get this program to implementation, the quicker we can give the many patients who deal with debilitating illness the medicine that they need," she said.
Barrett-Anderson last month said her office worked with Public Health weekly to fix the rules and regulations. She said it's been a very long process and it was a good learning experience since it was the first time Guam had to come up with such rules.
Emily Concepcion, the wife of the late KC Concepcion, who the law is named after, said she's glad the issue is taking another step forward.
She said a lot of people continue to ask her about the law for an update and she has been informing them that it's at the AG's office for review.
She said even though the review has taken longer than some would have expected, she said it was important that it be done right for the safety of the patients.
"I'm glad it's moving along. We're one step closer to getting help for patients that are in need of this medicine," she said.
Concepcion said she thanks the AG's office and the government for working hard on the rules and regulations. She's also thankful for the patience of those who are in need of the medicine and is hopeful they will have relief soon.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Author: Jerick Sablan
Photo Credit: Frederic J. Brown
Website: Pacific Daily News
